City politics

Living in this city is interesting.  Our last city election was a three way race.  The vote was split and I was not happy with the results.  Our re-elected mayor was in office from 1996 to 2005.  He ran in the next two elections, and lost but won in 2018.   Doug McCallum our current mayor won with 45,564 votes.  The other top candidates had 56,000 votes between them.  However, it's a democracy and you accept the results.

Doug McCallum ran on two contentious issues:  Scrap the LRT in Surrey and replace the RCMP with a New Municipal Police Force.  LRT was not wanted by many people in Surrey as it was a north-south train and would take a lane on a much used road.  Most people wanted a raised SkyTrain, going east-west where commuters badly need it.  Doug said he would scrap the LRT and build SkyTrain to Langley for the same cost as the LRT.   He was wrong with his costing.  SkyTrain can only go 7 KMs, not 16.8 KM as he promised.  His numbers were way off.

The RCMP does an excellent job.  If Doug can replace the RCMP with a municipal force for the same or less people would accept it.  The  cost report was given to council and they could not talk about anything in the report.  When I spoke to a City Councillor regarding the report, she said "all I can say is it's troubling".  That was back in the fall.  The report went to Victoria and we still don't know what is in the report.  No taxpayer has seen the report, only heard there will be a 10% increase in police costs.  That was the estimate given to the press.

Why is it secret?   There was a meeting before the election when Doug McCallum and a Surrey Developer with alleged questionable business practices, went to Victoria and met with Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.  When a city councillor questioned the meeting, a defamation lawsuit was filed.  What are they hiding and what transpired at the meeting?  Did they make a deal?  I hope they met to discuss other items and not make a back door deal.

Pending lawsuit

Wally Oppal was appointed by the Premier to over see the transition.  He is a seasoned counsel, arbitrator and mediator providing strategic advice on dispute resolution and public sector related matters.  Doug McCallum said the cost would be 10.9% more than the RCMP.  With his track record of false claims regarding the LRT/SkyTrain costs no one believes this.  39,000 people have signed a petition to scrap the transition and keep the RCMP.

The City has stopped all police and firefighter hires, because of budget restraint.  There are 1,000 people moving to Surrey every month and we haven't had more police officers

On February 28th, Wally Oppal will be speaking at the Surrey Board of Trade.  I already have my ticket.

My question is, does corruption and payoffs exist in our city and does it extend to the province?  Time will answer this. 

Coronavirus

The hype with Coronavirus is worrisome.  Yes, you should be aware.  Someone in a Government office went to a seminar to handle employees worried about the virus and how to calm the employees.  I heard from a mom of an elementary school whose son is in a class with a Chinese student who is coming to school wearing a mask.  The children are very worried and the poor girl is getting harassed! 

Should you be concerned, of course!  Try not to overreact and hopefully people don't use race to discriminate.

Here is a link from John Hopkins showing where the virus is and the people who have it:

https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

Spring is around the corner

If you are getting fed up with winter, spring is around the corner.  I just found it on the internet, it's true!

Royal Events - applications are open!

The rules have changed!  You must be temporarily residing in the UK.  Not the case when I applied but if you know of any Canadians living in the UK, pass this on to them.  It's an awesome event!

Royal Events

Each year the High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom is issued a limited number of tickets or places to Royal Events taking place that year to allocate to Canadians.

Information on how and when to apply will be posted on this page when these details are available. You are encouraged to check the page regularly and to follow the High Commission on Facebook or Twitter. You can also subscribe to the Canada Plus monthly e-newsletter.

Please note that all events receive far more applications than spaces and a random electronic ballot will be run for each. No correspondence will be entered into over the results of the ballot. If you have any questions, please contact LDN.PublicAffairs@international.gc.ca.

Due to the volume of enquiries we receive, we may not be able to respond to your email if the answer is contained in these pages. Please read all information carefully.

In order to streamline applications, the High Commission is using online applications only. All applications must be submitted via the links below. Email or paper applications will not be considered.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted and we may not have a chance to review all applications until after the deadline, therefore please ensure you fill out the form completely.

Before inputting your information, please prepare all your documents. The information on your application form has to match exactly the information on your passport.

The application period is a fixed time period, usually about 2 weeks long.  Applications cannot be accepted before or after this period.

Please note that the online registration systems for some events are held on a third party website. Personal information on this site will be used solely by the High Commission of Canada for the purposes of Royal Events. By completing an application to attend a Royal Event, you give your consent to the High Commission of Canada to process your personal data and share it with the Buckingham Palace for the purpose of nominating you to attend a Royal Event. The data will only be used for the Royal Event nomination process.

Canadians may apply for each of the three Royal Events, if they are eligible for all.

Royal Garden Parties: The application period is now open. The deadline to apply is 7th February at 16:00.

Trooping the Colour: The application period is now closed.

Royal Ascot: The application period is now closed.

---

Royal Garden Parties

This year, HM the Queen will hold three Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace in London and one Garden Party at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

2020 dates

The application period is now open.

Buckingham Palace Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Holyroodhouse Wednesday, 1 July 2020

All the details are located on the link.

Link to Royal Events

Some awesome photography

Thunderstorm over St. Petersburg

This makes me excited about going to South Africa!

A small village in Greenland

Arizona Memorial Valley

Drone picture over Central Park, New York

Fabulous Burns Dinner!

Yesterday we had a wonderful Burns Dinner with Janice, Jim, Donna, Carol and Dave!  Janice went to so much work preparing this great event!

Janice set a beautiful table.   This is from her blog:

I set the table with my mother-in-law's tablecloth which has a tartan theme, my family's china, and my grandmother Phoebe's sterling silver. I made napkins rings and place names for all the guests with their respective tartans. My napkin ring is my grandmother Phoebe's. Her initials are on top and my mother had "Janice" inscribed on the side. There were four napkin rings so" Richard" and "Jim "on inscribed on two others. 

Carol, Donna and I loved her mom's china.  I don't remember seeing it when we were neighbours.  I'm sure it was used for very special occasions.

We started by having some awesome Scotch, played Scottish Trivia and told Scottish jokes.  The German/Polish guy got the trivia question:  What is the Edinburgh Castle built on?  Extinct volcano.  Obviously he was paying attention to the tour guide while I was checking out the kilts on our tour of the castle!

This was followed by Piping in the Haggis (thanks to You Tube).  Dave brought his sword and Jim carried the haggis.

Jim was right behind him with the haggis.  Here is the ADDRESS TO THE HAGGIS, done by Jim:

Jim Sexton's Address to the Haggis January 25, 2020

After a delicious dinner of Red and White Wine, Leek and Potato soup, Scotch pies, Neeps (turnips), Scotch Eggs and Caesar Salad we went into the living room.  Cec and Dave toasted the lassies and Carol, Donna and I responded.  The comments were really funny!

Jim toasted to the "Immortal Bard", Janice toasted to the memory of friends and family, Donna toasted to Scotland and I toasted to Her Majesty. Queen Elizabeth II.  Then we all wished Harry and Meghan received the invite.

It was followed by dessert and coffee if we had any room left!  Janice served shortbread, oatcakes, peanut butter and chocolate oatmeal squares!

Janice made favours for each family.  This included a bagpipe, inside the bagpipe were the tartans of McGregor and Penman.  There were Scottish Jokes, trivia, a Christmas ornament with highland dancers and delicious McIntosh toffees that I just found and I'm chewing on one as I post my blog!  Thanks, Janice a lovely touch!

These were inside the bagpipes!

Janice, Carol and I all grew up on the same block on 45th Avenue, Vancouver

Donna was a high school and Job's Daughter's friend to us.  Jim, Janice and I all graduated the same year at Killarney Secondary.  Carol was born right after New Years, therefore was a year behind us in school.  After school, we all got married and went in different directions.  Carol and Dave lived in Edmonton and Belgium!  Janice and Jim moved to Victoria.  I'm glad they came all back to Vancouver and we reunited!

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.”
― Robert Burns

We noticed a huge black cloud coming in from the west and left before the monsoon started

Good advice from a Cardiologist

I often think of my dad, a Vancouver Fire Fighter who passed away at 51 with his second heart attack.  If it's not busy, they sleep at night. The fire bell wakes them up when there is a call.  They all bolt to the pole and jump in the truck.  It must be very hard on their systems! 

A friend just sent this to me:

My name is Alexander, I am a cardiologist. A very important warning for those who wake up at night to go to the bathroom...

You must be careful and use the "One-and-a-Half-minute rule" which is scientifically proven. By waking up suddenly for one's physiological needs normally, we often hear that someone "was well in good health and died suddenly during the night without reason. "

The most likely reason is that when that person woke up to go to the bathroom, he/she got up from bed in a hurry, but the brain needs greater blood flow, for having rested, causing a state of fainting and that is when the stroke happens. It is recommended to learn the "One-and-a-Half-minute law" that can save your life. When you wake up to go to the bathroom, you must first:  Lay for 30 seconds after waking up and then sit up in bed for 30 more seconds lowering your legs quietly and sit like that for another 30 seconds " and only then get up to go to the bathroom.

With these steps the chances are gigantic to survive a sudden stroke, regardless of age...

Share with all your family and friends. Remember that you can save yours and the lives of many people sharing this information...Prevention is better than healing *

Water effect
About the body
We know that water is important but you never knew the right time to drink!

Did you know?

Drinking water in the correct time maximizes the effectiveness of the human body;

1 Glass of water after waking up, helps activate internal organs...

1 Glass of water 30 minutes before meal helps digestion.

1 Glass of water before showering helps lower blood pressure.

1 Glass of water before sleeping avoids stroke or heart attack.

Finally!

Uber will start picking up passengers on Friday, but in Surrey?

We are the only major city in the world without ride sharing.  It was promised by the Liberals in 2012 and the NDP in our last election.  The last promise was "we will have ride sharing in Vancouver by Christmas".  Last Christmas passed and another promise was broken. 

I had a good conversation with someone who explained why it was taking so long.  Apparently they saw all the other hurdles other cities went through with licensing, insurance and law suits and made sure all the bases were covered.  I hope he was right.

Today Uber and Lyft were approved to operate in the Lower Mainland!   However, our Mayor announced at a meeting of the Vancouver Taxi Association the following:

On September 11, 2019, Mayor Doug McCallum of Surrey was met with loud applause when he told the group — which had been invited to the Fraserview Banquet Hall in Vancouver by the Vancouver Taxi Association — that he had been a longtime opponent of ride-hailing and “will not let ride-sharing come” to B.C.’s second-most populous city.

Taxi drivers are infuriated by the plan and have taken their plight to the Supreme Court of B.C., asking that the ride-hailing rules be quashed. In particular, they are upset that ride-hailing cars will not be limited in where they can operate while regular cabs are, that there will be an unlimited number of ride-hailing cars and that ride-hailing operators will be able to charge what the market will bear during busy times.

McCallum told the crowd that while acknowledging the provincial government was backing ride-hailing, the city had “one tool in its back pocket and I’m going to use it in Surrey.”

That tool is to not grant a business licence for any ride-hail operators wanting to do business in Surrey. “We will not be issuing any business licences to ride-sharing companies in Surrey,” he said.

This was announced after the above was published and I don't know if it's true but time will tell:

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation said in a statement late Tuesday that the city can't prevent ride-hailing companies from operating.

The ministry acknowledged municipalities can mandate business licences, but said that only the Passenger Transportation Board can regulate taxis and ride-hailing vehicles, including the control of supply, boundaries and rates.

Let's hope the Ministry of Transportation is correct and ride sharing starts today in Surrey!

Happy Thursday

Let's Make A Deal

Cheryl's episode of Let's Make a Deal was finally shown.  We kept it a secret for a long time.  She was chosen to play a card game.  She won diamond earrings and $750.00.  At the end of the show she agreed to go for the big Deal of the Day!

If you watch the show, you'll know the Vault!  It is straight cash!

Tiffany opened the Vault, and Cheryl won US $5,250.00!

If you want to watch the entire show here is the link:

Cheryl's episode of Let's Make A Deal


On September 26, 2013, Cheryl and I went to Let's Make A Deal after leaving a cruise in Los Angeles and before a trip to Disneyland.  If you want to watch this episode, it's online too.  The quality wasn't that great in 2013, but I am the first to be chosen.  Fast forward to the end a I went for the big deal too!

Linda's episode of Let's Make A Deal

If anyone wants to participate in the taping of Let's Make A Deal, email me.  There are "secrets" on how to get chosen.  You must be VERY outgoing and smile a lot.  We sat beside the "tooth lady" who won the trip to Thailand.  When you see her on TV, she is very photogenic.  They were the nicest couple and we were thrilled when she won that trip!  

I remember the first time I was on Let's Make A Deal in 1980 with Laurie when they taped it in West Vancouver.  Monte Hall gave me a wallet and gave me the choice of the wallet or Curtain #3.  They showed the curtain came with a case of Turtle Wax and there was something else behind the curtain.  I gave up the wallet that had $1,000 in it and took the curtain.  It was three pigs.  They were adorable and while I could have taken them home I opted for the $75 instead.   They paid me in Canadian dollars and I did not have to pay any tax to the government.  When I went to work the next day, Don Johnson told me the pigs were worth way more than $75 and his dad had a farm!  We had a cat at home and Cec didn't want another dog.  I can't imagine what he would have said if I came home with three pigs!

In the US it's different.  In 2013, I had to pay a game show tax to the State of California and income tax to the IRS.  As a Canadian I can apply for a refund for taxes paid.  You can go to a company that will file it for you, but they take 35% of your winnings.  Cheryl said it we could do it on our own.  Game show winnings are different tax filings than casino winnings.  We had a couple of rejections and with a trip to the IRS office in Bellingham, the agent helped me with the correct filing.  I received the State of California game show tax back in a few months, but the IRS refund took three years!  I kept all my paperwork and gave it to Cheryl.  Hopefully she will get her refund faster than I did.  For some unknown reason when it was done properly, they decided to "audit" me.

Our promise to Harry

Prince Harry returned to Vancouver last night around 7 PM and boarded a WestJet flight to Victoria!  I hope they are both happy with the change and journalists leave them alone!  They deserve privacy and the life they've requested.

I've read a lot of articles on the changes in the Royal Family, but this one is written by a Brit and makes a whole lot of sense.

You’ll read a lot about Harry and Meghan scaling down their public duties in the next few days. News reporters will stand in front of Buckingham Palace and dramatically emphasize words like ‘unprecedented’ and ‘crisis,’ as though the whole Royal institution is on the brink of collapse. But one view keeps being bandied about as if it’s a fact; Meghan is to blame.

So allow me, an average, middle-aged Englishman, to offer my humble opinion on the situation.

I was one of the hundreds of thousands of people who lined the streets of London to pay their respects to Princess Diana after her tragic death. As I watched the funeral procession pass in front of me, I wondered whether the two young boys walking behind the coffin felt our presence as a comfort or as an intrusion.

Something shifted in Britain that day.  Those who watched from the streets of London, and millions who watched on their TV at home, made an unspoken promise to look out for those kids. We felt a shared sense of duty to protect them.

In the years following, a definite line appeared between them and the rest of the Royal Family. The Queen and Prince Charles are revered and respected, but William and Harry are loved.

In the immediate aftermath of  Diana’s death, the press stood down and mostly respected the boy’s privacy. Though the tabloid thirst for stories about them didn’t abate, the articles took a kinder and gentler approach. But as the years passed a new breed of journalist came of age, young writers who understood social media and were willing to forget the past to grab short, attention-seeking headlines – no matter the cost.

Seemingly overnight, the two young princes became fair game.

Much of Harry ‘s work and achievements has been overshadowed by rumors or tabloid gossip about his private life. So I’d like to offer a brief reminder of how he actually represented the UK in his role — as a member of the Royal family and as a Brit.

Charity

Sentebale is among the many charities and patronages to which Harry is committed. He co-founded the charity in 2006 to help orphans in Lesotho, in southern Africa. Having visited the small African nation after completing his education, he was moved by the plight of children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic,  which has devastated the country. Together with Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso, he set up Sentebale to offer long-term support to community organisations working with children and young people, and in particular those working with orphans.

Army

Prince Harry served in the British Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two tours of Afghanistan.

Invictus Games

In 2014, Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games, an international event that used the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.

Wildlife conservation

On leaving the Army in 2015, he spent time working — actually working, not just posing for cameras — on a number of wildlife conservation projects in Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, and Botswana.

Ending the stigma of HIV/AIDS

Harry continued his mother’s work of raising awareness and ending the stigma of HIV by being tested, and encouraging others to do the same.

Halo

Harry also has honored his mother’s legacy by supporting the Halo Trust, an organization dedicated to clearing landmines in war torn countries.

Supporting the LGBT community

After years of supporting charities and foundations that support LGBT youth, he took to social media to once again publicly stand with the community for Pride month.

The press doesn’t believe an educated 35 year-old man would make that choice. They don’t believe him when he says he’s ‘not going to be bullied into the game that killed my mother.’ They don’t believe that the relentless attacks on his wife and family could have any part of his decision.

So, of course, they have blamed Meghan.

Countless articles accuse her of being conniving, manipulative and self-serving. TV pundits like Piers Morgan lose their shit over Meghan’s ‘influence’ on Harry. Social commentators suddenly have become royal experts overnight and cry out that Meghan will bring Harry down.

But in reality, it’s all bullshit.

In reality, Meghan saved Harry.

If you take a step back and consider the pressure this man has been under all his life, the personal tragedy he has dealt with, and the enormous microscope he’s lived under through no fault of his own it’s no wonder he has struggled with mental health. He was born into this drama, he didn’t ask for it. But Meghan has done what so many haven’t. She has allowed Harry to be Harry – and supported and stood by him all the way. And for that, we should be thankful.

So maybe we still have a chance to keep our unspoken promise to the boy following the coffin. However you feel about the monarchy, he’s a man who has done great things with the mantle thrust upon him. Instead of making things even more difficult for him, we can send him and his family on their journey with the love, support, and respect they so richly deserve.

Robbie Burns Supper

Janice and Jim invited us to a Robbie Burns Supper on January 25th!  Janice has gone to so much effort to make this a memorable day.  We are really looking forward to it.  She's invited Carol, Dave and Donna.  We are the furthest away so we will pick them up and all go together.

Here is the invitation we received in the mail:

Front Cover

Back cover, Janice found all the tartans

It's pretty hard to read the invite so here it is:

Robbie Burns Supper

January 25, 2020

You are cordially invited to join Jim and Janice in celebrating  

Robbie Burns birthday at their home at 1 pm

Activities

Welcome drink, Scottish trivia and jokes

Piping in the haggis, address to the haggis by Jim

Dinner

Selkirk Grace by Jim

Leek and potato soup

Scotch pies, neeps, Scotch eggs, Caesar salad

Shortbread, oatcakes, 

peanut butter and chocolate oatmeal squares

Highland Dancing and the Sailor’s Hornpipe 

(presented by YouTube)

Toast to the lassies by Cec and Dave

The Response to the laddies by Carol, Donna, and Linda

Toast to the “Immortal Bard” by Jim

Toast to the memory of friends and family by Janice

Auld Lang Syne

* Artwork by Janice inspired by Rennie Macintosh & Susan King

Everyone except us has Scottish heritage.  Cec's dad was born in Russia and his mom's parents were born in Poland and Ukraine.  My family is exclusively from England.  My son-in-law's heritage is Scottish.  In 2008 they went to Scotland to visit the Irving Castle.  They signed the family book and got some awesome history and pictures.  

https://clanirving.com/the_clan/history-of-the-irvings/

I loved the fact Janice found the Irving tartan!  Cheryl gave us some scarf's as we don't have anything Scottish to wear.  We've been to Scotland three times.  I love the culture, the people and the Edinburgh Tattoo!  We've had haggis a couple of times.  On Boxing Day this year Chris made Scotch Eggs.  Cec had never tasted them before and loved them.  

Cec and I have never been to a Robbie Burns dinner so this is a first.  The toasts should be fun.  Cec is looking forward to the jokes.  I have one Scottish joke.  Helen McDade, our neighbour on 45th Avenue told me this joke years ago.  I never forgot it!

Last night I texted Dave to see what Scottish wine I should buy as a gift for Janice.  Well, I guess that gave him a good laugh as he said "there is no good Scottish wine".  

As I get older....

Lying around, pondering the problems of the world, I realized that, at my age, I really don't care anymore. If walking is good for your health, the mailman would be immortal. A whale swims all day, only eats fish, and drinks water, but is still fat. A rabbit runs, and hops, and only lives15 years, while a tortoise doesn't run, and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for 150 years. And they tell us to exercise? I don't think so. Now that I'm older, here's what I've discovered: 1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it. 2. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran. 3. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded. 4. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded. 5. If all is not lost, then where the heck is it? 6. It was a whole lot easier to get older, than it was to get wiser. 7. Some days, you're the top dog, some days you're the hydrant. 8. I wish the buck really did stop here; I sure could use a few of them. 9. Kids in the back seat cause accidents. 10. Accidents in the back seat cause kids. 11. It is hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere. 12. The world only beats a path to your door when you're in the bathroom. 13. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he'd have put them on my knees. 14. When I'm finally holding all the right cards, everyone wants to play chess. 15. It is not hard to meet expenses . . . They're everywhere. 16. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.. 17. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter . . . I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm "here after". 18. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded. 19. It is a lot better to be seen than viewed.